(UPRR Engineer must think I am stalking him.......
) I have a regular assigned engine, where I am at now, and for the last 90 days, I have run an ex-Southern GP-38 highhood, with long hood being the front. It's actually no big deal, on an engine built to run bi-directionally. The angle of the control stand is different, than that of a "conventional" cabbed engine. The view from the seat isn't actually that bad, unless you are going through a left hand curve, then you get an excellent view of the trees, fields, whatever. Running in reverse, or short hood forward, visibility is actually about the same, due to the high hood. I keep the door latched open, and it's almost like running a switcher, with the view of the platform, steps and pilot. Sliding the seat to one end of the control stand, or the other, also makes the handles readily accesible, as well as the speedo easier to see. Granted, it's made to do this, and it IS different on a loco set-up to run short hood forward, but it is not impossible. My only complaint about running a loco "backwards", is the speedo is not usually visible, from the position you sit, facing out the back door. Sometimes I will just sit facing the control stand, but eventually, your neck gets stiff, from being twisted to see where you are going. The NS has thoughtfully installed 2 speedos, on lots of their engines, so this is not a factor. One on the front cab wall, one on the rear.The seats do slide fore and aft, so positioning ones self in a comfortable seating position is not really to difficult. I would REFUSE, however, being told to operate a tabletop control stand engine in reverse, for any reason other than putting the power on the train, or putting the power away. I have, by MY choice, made short movements to go find a train, assist a train, etc., and I ran facing forward, using the side view mirror to see where I was going. (plus the extra eyes on the other side of the cab) I would not take one of these out, on a travelling switcher, dog-catcher, etc., under any circumstances. (MARK ME OFF SICK, I'M GOING HOME
) The railroads do it for economics, again. Why use two, when one will do ? Regards